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Itinerary & Destinations

Luxury Catamaran Week Charter - Athens to Santorini

Itinerary

Luxury Catamaran Week Charter - Athens to Santorini

Athens

1st DAY : Kea Island

We will set sail for the beautiful island of Kea. Before arriving at Kea we will anchor in the beautiful bay of Cape Sounion. There you can either lie back for a swim or visit the temple of Poseidon. The cape is located 69 km south-east of Athens at the southernmost point of Attica peninsula. The Temple of Poseidon, built on a site set back from the sheer cliffs and with its magnificent view of the Aegean Sea and islands, was ideally located for the worship of the powerful god of the sea. In ancient times, mariners marble columns of the Temple of Poseidon and know they were close The temple that we see today was built in 444 BCE and stands on the site of an older temple. An Ionic frieze, made from 13 slabs of Parian marble is located on the east side of the temple‘s main approach path. The frieze is very eroded but is known to have depicted the mythological battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs, the Gigantomachia, and the adventures of the hero Theseus who was said in some legends to be the son of Poseidon. The east pediment (of which only a seated female figure is preserved) probably depicted the fight between Poseidon and Athena for the domination of Attica. Local marble, taken from quarries at nearby Agrilιza, was used for the temple‘s 34 slender Doric columns. The remaining 15 columns have been restored. When the temple was built there were special features incorporated which helped it combat its unique location on the water‘s edge. The columns were cut with only 16 flutings instead of the usual 20, thus reducing the surface area exposed to the elements and subsequently reducing the corrosion caused by the constant sea spray. would see the brilliant white to home.

Upon arriving in Kea we will moor in the harbour of Vorkari. A small fishing village located close to the capital. For those who prefer to walk the island offers 36 km of footpaths, 65% which are cobblestone. Most these paths date back to ancient times from 760 BC. Today, some of these footpaths have developed tourist and are ideal for long walks. Routes you can follow are:
1) Ioulida, Leon, Dosonari, Diaselli and Otzias (length: 5.100m).
2) Ioulida, Agios Konstantinos, Mylopotamos, Flea, and Korissia (length: 3.100m).
3) Ioulida, Mesaria, Prophet Elia, Astra, Ellinika, Agios Simeon, and Karthea (length: 11.850m.).
4) Moni Episkopis, Sotira, Parameria, Tria Maderika, and Sikamia (length: 4.450m.).
5) Katomeria, Kalodouka, and Pigi Vathipotamou (length: 3.150m.).
6) Stavroudaki, Pigi Vathipotamou, Karthea (length: 2.300m.).
7) Harvouna, Agios Taxiarhis, Pigadaki, Kaliskia, and Karthea (length: 1.700m.)
Each one of these routes has historic-archaeological interest.

Apart from natural beauties, you will have the chance to see part of the island’s cultural inheritance. Paths lead to the remains of ancient cities and help those having imagination to travel in the past and admire it with awe. Karthea was the most important among the four cities of Ancient Kea. It was founded at the archaic era and had a long duration of life, until the beginings of the Byzantine period. It is found on the south-eastern part of the island, in the coastal region which today is named Poles. If you find yourself there you believe that time has turned backwards, because nothing reminds of the 21st century, not even the way to reach it. Access to Karthea is until today only available through the ancient road that connected the city with the other cities of the island. The acropolis is surrounded by walls with at least six entries, while towers existed from which the region was being monitored. The path that has been established has as a starting point the settlement Stavroudaki and it abstains 17 kilometres from Ioulida. After about 400 metres of earth-road, we will meet the paved path. From there, we leave modern Kea behind us. The natural and historical landscape of the path is one of the most important in the Cyclades. By the time our eyes get used to the dense vegetation, we reach our destination. In front of us unfolds the sea. Here are Mikres Poles, solitary and imposing

After a rest at the church of “Panaghia ton Polo” and having dived in the waters that have been protecting the city for centuries, we can begin our exploration. At the southern utmost of the hills of Aspri Vigla the most important monuments can be seen: the temple of Athena (end of 6th/beginning of 5th century) in the north and the temple of Apollo (530 BC) in the south. Two more monuments, a propylos and the building D (beginning of 3rd century), are on the terrace of the temple of Athena. In the valley of Vathipotamos, the theatre and part of the system of the water feeder of the city were discovered. In the east of the acropolis lies the cemetery of city. The Archaeological Museum exposes parts of the pediments of the temple of Athena. From the splinters of the sculptures on the pediments we conclude that the southern pediment had as subjects the fight of the Amazones with Athena in the centre, while the grabbing of Antiopi from Thisseus was found on the southern side, as testified by two architectural members, bearing the signs of Thisseus and Antiopi.

2nd DAY : Syros

Will enjoy our breakfast on board in the lovely bay of Vourkaris and then set sail for Syros. We will stop in a nice bay on the way to snorkel, fish and prepare a light lunch and maybe see a few dolphins. We will then set sail for Syros. Depending on weather conditions we will either moor in the main harbor of Syros which is call Hermoupolis or in the small fishing village in the bay of Foinikas. A hilly, mostly barren island. The northern side is rugged and mostly uninhabited while the southern has gentler slopes and is cultivated near the cost. Most of the population live in Ermoupolis, the port and also the nominal capital of all Cyclades.

Nothing much remains of ancient Syros which was sited where Ermoupolis now stands. In the middle Ages, the inhabitants moved island until the Venetians, ever mindful of the potential of the harbour and the strategic position of Syros along the Aegean trade route, occupied the island and restored its prosperity. In the17th century the island came under the protection of the French and so escaped Turkish occupation. Syros is famous for its churches and Loukoumi, a Tourkish Delight which here is excellent and cannot be confused with some of the sickly, sweet imitations made elsewhere. Spend your late afternoon exploring the hundreds of churches, the museum of Cycladic art or just sipping an afternoon ouzo.

Things to see in Syros Archaeological Museum of Syros The Archaeological Museum of Syros, founded in 1835, is one of the oldest in Greece. In 1899, the Municipality of Hermoupolis offered some rooms of the Town Hall, a building designed by Ernst Ziller, for the exhibition antiquities, and since then, the museum has been housed there. The museum includes the following collections: Prehistoric finds from the fortified settlement at Kastri and the cemetery at Chalandriani, dated to the Early Bronze Age (3rd millenium B.C.). Finds from the ancient city of Syros and other sites of the Cyclades The First Hospital - Koutsodontis Inheritance Massive building of monumental style with simple architectural lines and interesting construction. It has marble-built parts with furrow joints while marble stripes separate the stories and a cunvex and concave moulding sets off the edifice‘s base. The final cornice is of marble and there is also a built parapet around the chamber. The building could well be described as an apartment building since it had different entrances. Morphologically and historically, the building is significant. As it can also be seen at the signposts, there lived Ch.A.Kriaras, resided King Otto and stayed E. Venizelos while an infant. From 1935 to 1963, it served as a Girls‘ Highschool. By a ministerial decree of 1987, the building was identified as a work of art encircled by a protection zone extending to the property‘s boundaries. Today, part of the building is inhabited while the rest is empty. Velissaropoulos Mansion The building is a mansion of heavily decorated architecture in the outside and interesting adornments inside. It is marble-built with masonry ashlar and a gable pediment on the third floor‘s shaft. Among its characteristic elements are the well-worked arched openings of the ground-floor shops and the decorations of exceptional technique on the stories (balcony windowsills, window cornices with legs dentils. The mansion was built by the architect, T. Vlysidis from the island of Syros. After its recent repair, the wall-paintings were destroyed (mainly those in the stairwell). By a ministerial decree of 1987, the building was identified as a work of art encircled by a protection zone extending to the property‘s boundaries. Currently it belongs to Cyclades Workers‘ Union and houses its headquarters.

3rd DAY: Mykonos

We set sail for Mykonos. This bare, but splendid island, where beautiful churches seem to sprout all over, has become a legendary holiday resort for movie stars, famous artists, intellectuals and anyone who is a member of the jet set. But, in spite of its many tourist attractions and its crazy night life, it also offers many isolated spots and incredible beaches, where you can enjoy its beauty undisturbed. From the architectural point of view only the Hora (main town ) is of particular interest. Nevertheless, Ano Mera the island’s sole village apart from Hora and the new small summer settlements built on protected coves are worth a look. These include Ormos, Ai-Giannis, Agios Stefanos, Tourlos and Platys Gialos. Spend the afternoon visiting the many attractions of Mykonos listed below: Petros the Pelican - An old celebrity of the town‘s waterfront, ‘Petro‘ has been the official mascot of Mykonos for many years. Found after a storm in 1954 the pelican gave up its migrating to become a local resident. After more than thirty years of making the island his home, Petro eventually died. The loss of such a personality was so deeply felt by both Mykonian and tourist alike that a replacement was soon found and a tradition established. Through the care and protection of the islanders, the spirit of Petro lives on in his predecessor who continues to this day to make his home on the island‘s waterfront.

Windmills - From as early as the 16th century one of the most recognised landmarks of Mykonos have been its windmills. Due to its geographic position, Mykonos was situated on major sea trade route which at one time joined Venice, the gateway to Europe, to Asia. The need to refine grain and compact it for transport combined with an ample year-round supply of wind made Mykonos the perfect location. Easy access to the harbour was necessary so most of the island‘s mills were positioned in or around the main port with the highest concentration covering the entire western portion of town. With the coming of industrialization the windmills importance began to decline as well as their numbers. Little Venice - Where the most western part of the town meets the sea is the area known as ‘Little Venice‘. Here the buildings have been constructed right on the sea‘s edge with their balconies overhanging the water.

Paraportiani - One of the most famous architectural structures in Greece is the church, Paraportiani. Positioned near the main harbour entrance, this church is the central feature of the ‘Kastro‘ or ca area, the oldest section of town. Its name means inner or secondary door which it was to the Medieval stone walls which encircled the area. First begun in 1475, Paraportiani, in reality, is a group of five small churches which were constructed over a period of time and not completed until well into the 17th century. The two-story structure was moulded together utilising four of its churches to form a base for the fifth church which when placed on top formed a central domed roof. Archaeological Museum - Located adjacent to the town‘s commercial harbour this museum houses marble sculptures, ceramics and jewellery, recovered from the islands of Delos, Renia and Mykonos. Included in this collection is a large ceramic vase dated 7th century BC which shows the oldest graphic record of the Trojan Horse.

DAY 4: Paros

After breakfast, we will sail to Delos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, full of ruined houses, temples, statues and mosaics, such as the sanctuary of Delos, the theatre district, the sanctuaries of foreign gods and the archaeological museum. After exploring Delos we head off to the beautiful island of Paros. Paros is famous for its sparkling blue waters, its dazzling sunlight and its marble, this island has become a permanent home to many artists. Visit the charming main port of Paros, with the semi-ruined Venetian castle, its well kept homes, and its many impressive churches.

While in Paros take time to see Church of Ekatontapliani (‘Ou Lady of a Hundred Doors‘) in Parikia just 200 m from the port The most imposing church in the Cyclades and one of the most important in Greece, approx. 1.600 years old. On the 15th of August its name day (a public holiday) is celebrated with a l of festivities. For those who want to spend the late afternoon watching the sun set – take the local bus to the village of Naoussa but be prepared when the sun goes down Naoussa is also full of great clubs, bars and cafes that are housed in old fishermen’s storage areas. Some of the most popular nightlife venues in Naoussa are Agosta, Barbarossa an Café del Mar, which are cafes in the morning and bars in the evening. Vareladiko Club is the place where Greek music lovers go, while Nostos is a mainstream club with beautiful island-style décor. Paros is also well known for windsurfing and is considered by many as one of the best spots in the Greek islands.

Paros as most of the islands in the Cyclades, offers ideal weather conditions. For that reasons, Paros was chosen by the PWA (Professional Windsurfers Association) and each year, since 1993, the beach of New Golden Beach welcomes the World Cup. It is the only professional race in Greece and its takes place in early August.

DAY 5: Koufonisia

We will set sail for Koufonisia. On the islands of Koufonisia, south coast stretch, from Praiano on the west side to Pori on the east side, the beaches are fascinating. Crescents of golden sand interchange with wild looking caves that the tide has carved into the rocks. In general terms, the further east you go the better the beaches are and the denser the greenery comparatively is.

A pathway parallel to the islands south coastline allows you to see and chose the beach that appeals to you. The most frequented beaches are Harokopou and Platia Pounda, the most secluded beach is Fanos and the most isolated beach, and probably the best is Pori. It‘s approximately 4 kilometres from the town, but literally, it‘s worth the effort. Bear in mind that the seaside road, in practice, has proved to be longer that it appears to be on the map but it definitely is a more beautiful road than the one that runs through the island. Beside the pathway, you will find «ammothines» (small hills of sand where very rare flowers with white lilies grow), that you can only find in the Cyclades. Do not forget an excursion by caique to Lower Koufonisi. The coarse sand beaches are ideal for nudism and isolation. Also, in Upper Koufonisi, look for the ‘Pool‘ which is a stone tank filled with seawater that will offer you a memorable swimming experience.

DAY 6: Ios

After breakfast, we will sail off to the island of Ios. Ios has plenty of facilities for its crowds. It became a legend in the 70s, a hippy’s paradise with lots of bars, beach bars, nudist beaches and an exotic nightlife. Ios is supposed to be the burial place of Homer. On an island renowned for its beaches, the best are, Mylopota, the string of sandy coves at Manganari bay and in the north-east and Psathi, with its engaging taverna on the hill above.

According to Herodotus, Ios was the home of Homer mother Clymene and the burial place for Homer. On 15th of May each year, the Homer festival -Homeria takes place in Ios Island and a flame is carried from the port to his tomb in Plakoto. There are many things to see in Ios apart for its nightlife. First of all, a day walk around the lovely narrow streets of the beautiful Hora is a must, as is a stop at Panagia Gremiotissa, on the highest point of the village, to enjoy the magnificent view.

On the eastern side of Ios island, on top of a small hill at Paleokastro, are the remains of a 10th-century marble Venetian castle, surrounding a lovely Byzantine chapel. A nice footpath above Psathi offers 15 minutes agreeable walk to this interesting site. The windmills and the beautiful amphitheatre Odysseas Elytis, on the top of Hora, constitute a nice excursion and walk and offer a panoramic view of Mylopotas

DAY 7: SANTORINI

We sail for the jewel of Cyclades. Otherwise known as Thira, this volcanic island is truly unique. Human presences on the island seem to have existed since the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C. The excavations at Akrotiri have confirmed that human activity on the island continued until the eruption of the volcano around 1500 B.C, which entirely buried the island beneath very thick layers of pozzuolona, At that point, all traces of human activity vanished from the island until the end of the 13th century B.C. According to Herodotus, the island was initially called Strongyle (the Round One). Then later, because of its beauty, it was named Kalliste (the Fairest One). The Phoenicians settled in Kalliste, and after the Phoenicians, the Lacedaemonians arrived and renamed the island after their leader, Theras. In the 9th century B.C. Thera, became an important stopping point of that era in the travel routes between the East and the West. The Phoenician alphabet was adopted at this time for writing in the Greek language. Interestingly though, the conservative Therans, did not follow the cultural development of their counterparts in the other Cycladic islands. At about 630 B.C the Therans reached the north coast of the African continent where they founded Cyrene, the only Theran colony.

From as early on as the 6th century B.C. Thera had its own coinage. During the Classical period in Greece [5th and 4th century B.C.] Thera did not play any significant role in the events of that Hellenic time. During the Peloponesian War Thera sided with Sparta, as expected. In Hellenistic times the island‘s strategic position made Thera an important base for the war campaigns in the Aegean of the successors to Alexander the Great.

The two small islands in the centre of the Santorini caldera, Palea and Nea Kameni, ‘ the volcano ‘ to the local people, are the youngest volcanic lands in the Eastern Mediterranean. Palea Kameni (Old Burnt Island) is less than 2000 years old, while Nea Kameni (Young Burnt Island) began to form only 425 years ago and its youngest lavas are less than 50 years old. These two islands represent the volcano‘s most recent activity.

The ancient city at Akrotiri is not merely the most important archaeological site on the island, it is also, thanks to its excellent state of preservation and the wealth of findings it has yielded, the most important prehistoric settlement found anywhere in the Eastern Mediterranean. Akrotiri c Pompeii of the Aegean.

Sail from Athens to Mykonos, stopping at some of the most beautiful places in Greece! We will visit historic sites in Kea, snorkel near Syros, and explore the incredible beaches of Mykonos, Ioannis and Ioanna, and your crew, who speak both Greek and English, will ensure you have a fantastic trip.

Ioannis's love for the sea makes it a way of life and he as travelled endlessly ever since. He is an experienced sailor and captain of almost any type and size of pleasure yachts (mono hulls, catamaran, and motor yachts) and he has successfully managed to organise and equip numerous boats. He is very diligent, hard working and maintains a high level of professionalism at all times. He enjoys meeting new people and sharing his passion for sailing and travelling. He holds a Diploma Skipper of Delphinarium Yacht Club, Offshore Sailing School and Diploma power license. Ioannis is also graduated of Hellenic Navy as Mechanical Engineer. In 2011-2012 he had the 1st Position in Rally Ionian, ORC Club, Bareboat Gulio.

Ioanna, our chef, is a social, humorous and open-hearted person. She was boin Greece and lived mainly in Athens, where she has worked as a manager in various restaurants and cafes, and she has also spent some years in Crete, where she has worked as a scuba-diving instructor in Elounda Beach Hotel, with training first-aid (CPR). As a person, she is a sea-lover, communicative, social and humorous. Moreover, she is a team-worker, experienced in handling stressful conditions. She loves cooking, primarily Greek traditional cuisine. Her hobbies include sailing, yoga and meditation.